US Quantum of Solace premiere . . .

...Yesterday, we got to know that the US premiere of the new James Bond "Quantum of Solace" takes place in New York City, at the AMC Lincoln Square (68th Street at Broadway). So we didn't want to miss the opportunity to see Daniel Craig and other famous people there. We had to wait for some time and we couldn't get very close to the red carpet when the famous people arrived, because the security guys put us always away (they said: "Keep moving - Keep moving - don't stay here, bla bla"). Anyway it was great to see Daniel Craig and Robert De Niro in real.

The following famous important people were there:
- Markus and I :-)
- Daniel Craig
- Robert De Niro
- Becki Newton
- Debra Messing
- Molly Sims
- Julia Stiles

Here are some reports from yesterday with better pictures from the stars:
- http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/8HaW0uQn4FN/Quantum+Solace+2008+Tribeca+Film+Institute/-qpxQuZAx4B

- BBC News

Something sad about the New York Times, because they mixed Austria with Australia:
...
A devastating betrayal sends James Bond from Australia to Italy and South America on a mission of vengeance that pits the suave super-spy against a powerful businessman with diabolical intentions.
...
(Source: http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/356351/Quantum-of-Solace/overview, November, 12th 2008)

AMC theatre at the Lincoln Square:
Daniel Craig (I have to buy a new camera, to be a better paparazzo):
Robert De Niro and Becki Newton:
I'm now really looking forward to seeing the new James Bond movie. It will be in the theatres starting on November, 14th.

Some Campus Impressions...

...I want to give you also some impressions from my campus here. This post contains only pictures from outside, but images from the class rooms, gym, library, etc will also come.

The college was also included in some quite famous movies or series:
* Law & Order - various scenes from Law & Order have been filmed on the City College campus.

* Love Story (1970) - The Harvard graduation was in the Great Hall in CCNY's Shepard Hall.

* Bananas (1971) - the character Nancy, who is taking signatures for a petition in Fielding Mellish's apartment building, is a student at CCNY

* Wall Street (1987) - Michael Douglas's character, Gordon Gekko, tells Bud Fox (played by Charlie Sheen) that his accomplishments are "not bad for a City College boy. I bought my way in; now all these Ivy League schmucks are sucking my knee caps."

* Crossing Delancey (1988) - Sam is wearing a City College of New York sweater when playing handball

* Cocktail (1988) - the character Brian Flanagan was studying business at CCNY

* Reversal of Fortune (1989) - The CCNY campus was used to depict Harvard for this 1990 movie. Many of the scenes taking place in the law school, including the office of Professor Alan M. Dershowitz and several classroom scenes, were filmed in late 1989 at the CCNY School of Architecture, located in Shepard Hall.

* The Substance of Fire (1996) - Scenes in the publishing firm run by Isaac Geldhart (Mr. Ron Rifkin's character), a Holocaust survivor, were shot in Shepard Hall.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org, November, 7th 2008)

Campus Map:


North Academic Center (NAC):

Wingate Hall (left) and Harris Hall (the one with the clock on it)

College Logo:

Sheppard Hall:

View from the Sheppard Hall to the Campus:

Sheppard Hall:

Senator Barack Obama - America Voted for Change...

...It is an important event in the history of the United States of America and we were very close to it. Senator Barack Obama will be the next president of the States.

It was so crazy out there, when the results from the last states (11:00 PM ET) came that the race for 270 was decided - really amazing and unforgetable moments - people were dancing, crying and you could hear everywhere "Yes, we can - Yes, we can - Yes, we can, ..."

If you have missed the great victory speech from Barack Obama - watch it via the New York Times website...

Some pictures from the bar where we watched CNN.

NHL in the Madison Square Garden Rocks...

...As written earlier yesterday was the day of my first NHL (National Hockey League) game in the World's Most Famous Arena, the Madison Square Garden (MSG). We watched the New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins in an arena which was sold out! So we were under 18,200 Rangers fans.

The Rangers started not very good, but in the end they really did perfect catch-up (2nd goal 8 seconds before the end - crazy moments). Here is a video from the goal - don't miss it, because it is awesome and you can feel a bit how fabulous the atmosphere was in the stadium - here you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvkdy5dUl_8 (Length: 1min and 02 sec.)
(Everybody was singing: Goal, Goal, Goal, Goal - Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! ...)

After the overtime the Rangers won the shootout session 3:2. For more details, please read the game recap on the NHL website.

We were lucky because around us were real hardcore Rangers fans (I believe season subscribers) and they were singing most of the time. That was fun!

After the game some people were saying that this was one of the best games since a long time in this arena. I don't know if this is true, but it was really loud when the Rangers scored their second goal and won the shootout.

What else? National anthem of the United States at the beginning of nearly every event.
Hockey field during the game with the players and around the huge tribune. Our seats were in the upper area, but the view was still very good and we needed five in a row and this is not so easy to get - otherwise it would be very $$$$.
It's written everywhere. "I AM A RANGER", "LET'S GO RANGERS" and "I BLEED RANGER BLUE" (picture before the game - afterwards no seats were empty!).
It was more fun as it looks like.
Now I'm looking forward to the NBA game (November, 16th) which is also in the Madison Square Garden...

It's Party Time...

...As you most probably know, New York is also known for its fabulous nightlife. Before I came to this city I read and heard a lot about it and everything is true ;)

There are many crazy parties, clubs, pubs and bars here. If you would have enough time you could go out every night! We have already some preferred areas for going out like Upper West Side (area around Columbia University), Lower East Side, Meatpacking, Chelsea. Below you can see some pictures from nights where we had a lot of fun.

One of the best things here is that ALL bars are non smoking areas. I think it will be horrible for me when I will come back to Austria in our bars and restaurants and everything is filled with smoke.

This was on the day when Peter had his birthday and we were on the way to a frat party at Columbia, where we grabbed a beer at a Deli. It's so funny for me to drink out of these paper bags...A friend of us got already a ticket for an open beer can on the street. He had to pay 25 bucks.
In a nice pub somewhere on the 2nd Avenue, after dinner at our famous Indian restaurant:

This picture is from the Lion's Head Tavern. Later on, we went to one of my favorite bars called The Heights. There you have two floors (one of them is the rooftop) full with students...
Perfect view on Jersey's skyline from the hip rooftop bar of the Gansevoort Hotel. From the roof you have a breathtaking 360 degree's view. Up there it's really wonderful.

These are just some impressions - unfortunately we had not always our camera with us...

The American Way of Life...

...I'm now in the States since around two (2) months and therefore I would like to give you guys some impressions about some typical American things...

When you google the American Way one famous phrase is:

"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

(These words are written in the United States Declaration of Independence)

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_way, October, 23rd 2008)

A quite famous and very nice smoothie chain is called Jamba Juice - some of you may know it from various movies:
Since I'm here, I drink more coffee than in Austria and fortunately there is a Starbucks EVERYWHERE! This is not an exaggeration - e.g. on the Broadway there are areas where min. all 5 blocks is one - even more often.
On the other side there is the big competitor of Starbucks - Dunkin' Donuts. I like the coffee mug's very much, where you can see the slogan "America Runs On Dunkin" in images :-)
A dozen donuts box - they were really good:
Besides donuts you can also get some healthy food like we had one day during a very nice Sunday brunch - Salmon Plate:
In Montreal I enjoyed one of my best burgers here - Bison Burger:

Columbus Day...

...As Americans celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in America, fortunately yesterday was a day without classes. The Columbus Day is not in all States a holiday like it is in New York.

We have been at the Columbus Day Parade which takes place at the Fifth Avenue. This parade is hosted by the Columbus Citizens Foundation:
"The Columbus Citizens Foundation is a non-profit organization in New York City committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement. The Foundation, through a broad range of philanthropic and cultural activities, provides opportunities for advancement to deserving Italian-American students through various scholarship and grant programs. The Foundation organizes New York City's annual Columbus Celebration and Columbus Day Parade, which has celebrated Italian-American heritage on New York's Fifth Avenue since 1929."
(Source: http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org, October, 14th 2008)

The parade was not as amazing and fancy as we have expected - anyway it was nice to watch it: